Lavandula plant named ‘Anouk Deluxe 1945’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Lavandula  plant named ‘Anouk Deluxe 1945’, characterized by its compact, upright to somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching growth habit; freely flowering habit; violet-colored flowers and greenish white-colored terminal flower bracts positioned on strong and erect peduncles; long flowering period; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Lavandula stoechas.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ANOUK DELUXE 1945’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY APPLICANT

An European Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Applicant on Jun. 30, 2022, application number 2022/1631. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Lavandula plant, botanically known as Lavandula stoechas, commonly referred to as Lavender and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Anouk Deluxe 1945’.

The new Lavandula plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Boskoop, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new unique Lavandula plants with good performance and attractive plant form and flower coloration.

The new Lavandula plant originated from a cross-pollination in May, 2018 of Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk Deluxe 1173’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,301, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Lavandula stoechas identified as code number 1817, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Lavandula plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands in July, 2019.

Asexual reproduction of the new Lavandula plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands since September, 2019 has shown that the unique features of this new Lavandula plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Lavandula have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of the new Lavandula plant. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Anouk Deluxe 1945’ as a new and distinct Lavandula plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright to somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching growth habit.     -   3 .Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Violet-colored flowers and greenish white-colored terminal         flower bracts positioned on strong and erect peduncles.     -   5. Long flowering period.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘Anouk Deluxe 1173’, primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula are more compact and more upright         than plants of ‘Anouk Deluxe 1173’.     -   2. Plants of the new Lavandula will rebloom whereas plants of         ‘Anouk Deluxe 1173’ rarely rebloom.

Plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula are more upright than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Lavandula have greenish white-colored         terminal flower bracts whereas plants of the male parent         selection have white-colored terminal flower bracts.

Plants of the new Lavandula can be compared to plants of the Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,685. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of ‘Anouk’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula are more compact and more upright         than plants of ‘Anouk’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Lavandula are broader and more         greyish green in color than leaves of plants of ‘Anouk’.     -   3. Plants of the new Lavandula have greenish white-colored         terminal flower bracts whereas plants of ‘Anouk’ have         violet-colored terminal flower bracts.     -   4. Plants of the new Lavandula will rebloom whereas plants of         ‘Anouk Deluxe’ rarely rebloom.

Plants of the new Lavandula can also be compared to plants of the Lavandula stoechas ‘Toscane’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,046. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of ‘Toscane’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula are more compact and more upright         than plants of ‘Toscane’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Lavandula are broader and more         greyish green in color than leaves of plants of ‘Toscane’.     -   3. Plants of the new Lavandula have greenish white-colored         terminal flower bracts whereas plants of ‘Toscane’ have light         violet-colored terminal flower bracts.     -   4. Plants of the new Lavandula will rebloom whereas plants of         ‘Toscane’ rarely rebloom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Lavandula plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Lavandula plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 ) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Anouk Deluxe 1945’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 ) is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Anouk Deluxe 1945’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and following detailed description were grown in 12-cm containers during the spring in an outdoor nursery in Boskoop, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Lavandula production. Plants were pinched one time and were nine months old when the photographs and description were taken. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 10C to 30C and night temperatures ranged from 5C to 20C. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk Deluxe 1945’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk Deluxe             1173’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,301.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Lavandula             stoechas identified as code number 1817, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About ten days at             temperatures about 18C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 60 days             at temperatures about 20C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 70 days             at temperatures about 20C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; initially white in color             and becoming more brown with development; actual color of             the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water             quality, fertilizer type and formulation.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; compact,             upright to somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; obovate             in overall plant shape; freely branching habit; moderately             vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate; flowers             arranged in verticillasters on crowded spikes with showy             terminal flower bracts.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 16.1             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 23.8             cm.         -   Plant width.—About 19.4 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Quantity per plant: About seven             primary lateral branches each with about four secondary             lateral branches developing per plant; pinching enhances             branching potential. Length: About 8.4 cm. Diameter: About             2 mm. Internode length: About 1.8 cm. Strength: Moderately             strong. Aspect: Primary lateral branches, upright to about             40 degrees from vertical; secondary lateral branches, about             35 degrees from primary lateral branch axis. Texture and             luster: Densely tomentose; slightly glossy. Color, when             developing: Close to 144C. Color, developed: Close to 143B             and 145A; with development, close to 199A to 199C.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple; sessile.             Length: About 2.7 cm. Width: About 4.5 mm. Shape: Narrowly             oblanceolate to narrowly oblong. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate.             Margin: Entire; moderately revolute; not lobed. Texture and             luster, upper surface: Densely tomentose; not rugose; matte.             Texture and luster, lower surface: Densely tomentose;             slightly rugose; matte. Fragrance: Strongly aromatic,             pungent. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing             leaves, upper surface: Close to 138A. Developing leaves,             lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully expanded leaves, upper             surface: Close to NN137C; venation, close to 146D. Fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to N138B; venation,             close to 147B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type, arrangement and habit.—Small single salverform             flowers arranged in compact verticillasters on crowded             terminal spikes; freely flowering, about 200 flowers             developing per inflorescence and about 4,400 flowers             developing per plant; flowers with two-lobed upper lip and             three-lobed lower lip; flowers face mostly outwardly on the             spike; inflorescences with showy terminal flower bracts.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; continuous             from late spring into the summer in The Netherlands; plants             reblooming for about ten weeks.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Individual flowers last about             four weeks on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 5.5 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Shape: Elliptic to oblong. Texture and luster: Densely             tomentose; matte. Color: Close to 145A to 145B; distally,             close to 146A and at the apex, close to 83A.         -   Inflorescence size.—Height, including terminal flower             bracts: About 5.8 cm. Height, excluding terminal flower             bracts: About 3.9 cm. Diameter, at terminal flower bracts:             About 2.4 cm. Diameter, below flower bracts: About 1.8 cm.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 4 mm by 4 mm. Depth (height):             About 9.5 mm. Throat diameter: About 1 mm. Tube length:             About 6 mm. Tube diameter: About 1 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Upper lip, two-lobed and             lower lip, three-lobed. Length, upper lip: About 3 mm.             Length, lower lip: About 2 mm. Width, upper lip: About 2 mm.             Width, lower lip: About 2 mm. Shape: Roughly spatulate;             lower 66% fused into a tube. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire;             moderately undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous; slightly bullate; velvety; not rugose;             matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous;             moderately velvety; not rugose; matte. Texture, throat:             Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety. Texture, tube: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 86A. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close             to 86B; venation, close to 86B; color becoming closer to             N92C with subsequent development. Throat: Close to 86B;             venation, close to 86B. Tube: Close to 86B fading proximally             to close to N155A; venation, close to 86B and N155A.         -   Terminal flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About             eight positioned mostly upright at inflorescence apex.             Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 8 mm. Shape: Obovate to             narrowly obovate. Apex: Obtuse to bluntly acute. Base:             Acuminate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Densely tomentose; matte.             Color, upper surface: Close to 155C; venation, close to 143C             to lighter than 143C. Color, lower surface: Close to 157C;             venation, close to 143C to lighter than 143C.         -   Basal flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: Each group of             seven flowers is subtended by a single basal flower bract.             Length: About 7.5 mm. Width: About 7 mm. Shape: Reniform to             deltoid. Apex: Abruptly acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Moderately             tomentose; moderately glossy. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Moderately tomentose; matte. Color, upper surface:             Close to between 145D and 157A; venation, close to 144A.             Color, lower surface: Close to 145D; venation, close to             144A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five, fused into a             campanulate tube. Calyx length: About 5.5 mm. Calyx             diameter: About 1.75 mm. Length: About 5.5 mm. Width: About             0.75 mm. Shape: Linear. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture             and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Texture             and luster, lower surface: Densely tomentose; slightly             glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 145D;             venation, close to 144B. When opening, lower surface: Close             to 145A to 145B; distally, close to 146A. Fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 145D; venation, close to 144B. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 145A to 145B; distally,             close to 143A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.1 cm. Diameter: About 1.75 mm.             Aspect: Mostly upright. Strength: Strong. Texture and             luster: Densely tomentose; matte. Color: Close to 143B and             N144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Four.             Filament length: About 1 mm. Filament color: Close to N155A.             Anther shape: Short oblong; dorsifixed. Anther size: About             0.75 mm by 0.75 mm. Anther color: Close to 164C. Pollen             amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 14A. Pistils:             Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 4 mm. Stigma             shape: Club-shaped. Stigma diameter: About 0.5 mm. Stigma             color: Close to 143B. Style length: About 3.75 mm. Style             color: Close to 157D. Ovary color: Close to 146B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not             been observed on plants of the new Lavandula. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Lavandula     have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Lavandula plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Lavandula have exhibited good     tolerance to rain and wind and have been observed to tolerate     temperatures from about 1C to about 40C and to be suitable for USDA     Hardiness Zones 7 to 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Lavandula plant named ‘Anouk Deluxe 1945’ as illustrated and described. 